Device for mechanical aid for handwriting.



W. s. TWIOHELLL DEVICE FOR MECHANICAL AID FOR HANDWRI TING.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 1, 1908.

Patented July 12, 1910.

Zfline'mrea.

DEVICE FOR MECHANICAL AID FOR HANDWRITING.

To all whom 'it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WVILLIAM SEYMOUR TWICHELL, citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Midland Park, in the county of Bergen and State ofNew Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devicesfor Mechanical Aid for Handwriting, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

The objects of my invention are to provide a device which willmechanically aid in the control of the fingers, hand, wrist, fore-armand arm, or any of said members, in writing; to insure the correctposition and the proper muscular movement thereof, in writing; for theproper training of the young and for assisting adults, and for thecorrection of existing evils or false methods in hand writing.

My invention may be utilized in writing with either a pencil or a penand is capable of many modifications in construction, to control themovement of the members or motion employed in writing, as desired.

The finger movement may be prevented altogether if desired, which willinsure what is called the muscular movement, or change the motive orpower from the fingers to the arm. The lateral movement of the hand bybending the wrist may be prevented also, as well as the turning of thehand, which compels the writer to hold the hand in the correct positionwhile writing and prevents the indolent, careless or indifferent pupilsfrom acquiring the habit of holding the hand in those positions whichare the cause of the evils or false methods in hand writing, thatteachers now have to combat against.

In some of the modified forms of devices embodying my invention, ifdesired, the pen or pencil held by the fingers may be allowed to passfreely through the eyelets or portions of the devices that will serve asa guide for the pencil, thus permitting to some extent vvhat is calledthe finger movement.

In all of the modified forms of construction which embody my invention,it is essential that some substantially arched or bowshaped portion orportions of the device, pass under the palm of the hand forming a lightand comfortable rest therefor, and adapted to prevent the hand fromturning to either side, thus insuring a perfect position of the hand andpen or pencil while writing.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 1, 1908.

Patented July 12, 1910.

Serial No. 424,658.

The principle of thus supporting the hand and pencil is illustrated inthe accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, inwhich drawings, similar reference-letters, and numerals, indicate likeparts in the various figures.

The broad principle of harnessing the hand, wrist, or arm and the pen orpencil together for the purposes above mentioned, may be utilized invarious modified forms of construction too numerous to be shown anddescribed in this specification, and without departing from the scopeand spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings are shown some forms of devices whichembody and illustrate the essential features of the invention.

Figure 1, illustrates the most extensive form substantially, of a deviceembodying the invention, the hand, wrist and forearm being harnessed tothe pencil so as to insure a practical support for the hand and thepencil and to prevent absolutely any departure from the correct positionand movement in writing; Fig. 2, is a front view of Fig. 1, the brace Aabove the hand being shown in solid lines and the arches under the palmof the hand forming a rest therefor, being shown in dotted lines; andshowing more clearly than in Fig. 1, the end rest -A*- on the end of thearch A The invention in any of its various forms may be made in sizes tomeet the demand and may be constructed of a single rigid piece or inadjustable folding parts for convenience in carrying, either with orwithout removing the pen or pencil from the holder. Portions of thedevice are covered with rubber tubing, leather or other similar materialfor the purpose of giving a finished appearance and for the comfort ofthe writer.

The members of the eyes or eyelets may be varied without departing fromthe essential spirit of the invention, and the lower end of the devicewhich forms a rest for the hand, may be formed so as to offer littleresistance to the movement of the arm in the proper muscular movement.

I do not wish to limit myself to the material used in the constructionof my device, while I prefer to construct it of Wire, either round orflat, in whole or in part. The portions of the device forming a rest forthe hand may be of more or less bulk and instead of being made of wire,may consist of hard rubber or celluloid. Two or more parts of the devicemay be linked together by eyelets or folding joints, without departingfrom the scope of my invention.

In Fig. 1, of the drawings, the pencil P, is held rigidly in threeeyelets1, 2, and 3, formed by bent portions of the device, rubber bands,B, being employed to hold the pen or pencil in the position desired. Thelower eyelet 3, forms a rest for the fingers and thumb of the writer.The palm of the hand resting on the bridge or arch formed by the partsA---, --A and upturned portion of A*, which forms a rest for the side ofthe hand. A is a swinging brace adapted to pass over and around thewrist, and A is a spring-arm which passes over the top of the hand tohold the hand snugly, close to the supporting arch under the palm. Themain stem of the device in this figure is composed of the parts S- and Swhich ends in an extended portion L adapted to rest against thefore-arm, L. The brace portion S connects the part- A rigidly neareyelet -3, with the eyelet on the main stem S and S Fig. 2 clearlyillustrates the correct position of the hand which is insured absolutelyby the use of my device.

The use of this invention will cure as well as prevent writers cramp,and enable a person to write who has been unable to write for years byreason of palsy, or kindred troubles. For the hand that is weak or needsmore support than others, the palm rest may be madeto con f aball-shaped cage if necessary, or of a shell or of a solid support.

There are a very few and exceptional cases in which the harnessing ofthe pen or pencil to the hand is not essentially necessary in order totrain the hand of the writer to write according to the up-to-date andimproved methods in a short space of time.

With this description of my invention, what I claim is 1. In a devicefor mechanical aid in hand writing, the combination with a holder forpen or pencil, of a support for said holder, a rest for the hand, abrace passing over the hand, a brace extending from said support andhand rest along the wrist and forearm, and another brace adapted to passover the wrist, all connected, constructed and arranged, substantiallyas set forth.

2. A mechanical device for controlling the position of a pen or penciland the movements to be imparted thereto by the hand, wrist, andforearm, consisting of a series of braces constituting a holder for apen or pencil, a support for said holder, a rest for the hand, and meansconnecting said braces so as to prevent the independent movement of thefingers, hand and wrist, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM SEYMOUR TWICH ELL. l/Vitnesses GERTRUDE MAYBEE, JOHN F. KERR.

